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Lafayette schools to reopen Friday

Lafayette Parish public schools will remain closed Thursday because, Superintendent Pat Cooper said, of transportation safety concerns, students having to wait for buses in below-freezing temperatures and the need to assess equipment and pipes at school buildings.

Lafayette schools to reopen Friday

Lafayette Parish public schools will be closed for the third day in a row today.

Officials had planned to re-open schools after they were closed Tuesday and Wednesday, but continuing wintry conditions reversed that decision.

Superintendent Pat Cooper said in an issued statement that officials wanted to ensure the safety of the nearly 20,000 public and private school students who would have to ride on buses across overpasses and bridges that could still be icy this morning. The overnight temperature was expected to fall to 21 degrees; however, no additional precipitation was forecast.

Another concern was having students wait outside in the cold for buses early Thursday, Cooper said. Officials also were worried about the nearly 4,500 employees who arrive at schools early in the morning.

Workers will spend today evaluating and possibly repairing pipes and equipment at schools to ensure there will be adequate water, sewerage and heating in the buildings.

“When we consider that the newest reports indicate that weather conditions continue to impact the conditions of roads, bridges and overpasses, then the decision to close becomes apparent,” Cooper said in the release. “We all agree, I am sure, that the risk of a tragic accident is not worth the reward of one forced extra day of instruction.”

Including Thursday, Lafayette Parish schools have been out of session four days in less than a week. Officials closed schools last Friday because of icy conditions.

The school system will begin to ease back into a normal pattern today. Central office employees, custodians and maintenance personnel are being asked to report to their work sites by 10:30 a.m., when roads are expected to be safe.

All sporting events and extracurricular activities are scheduled to resume Thursday afternoon and evening. A joint meeting of the employee insurance advisory committee and Lafayette Parish School Board is also set to take place at 4:45 p.m. Thursday as scheduled.

Erin Ryan, whose daughter Caroline is a first-grader at J. Wallace James Elementary, applauded the school system for erring on the side of caution.

“I would much prefer them be safe than sorry,” she said. “It’s not convenient for me or for others, but after hearing Dr. Cooper’s call about it and reasons for it, I know there is a lot of concern about the buses. I understand it. It’s inconvenient, but we will make it up.”

Ryan works at the Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise, which was closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Ryan has been working from home, but said she was preparing to bring her daughter to work with her Thursday after two days spent painting, cooking, playing in the ice and studying flash cards.

“We’ve spent a lot of good times together, but we’re both getting pretty antsy,” she said. “I’m pretty sure it will be a wild classroom on Friday. We have a lot of respect for her teacher, and I’m positive she will get them caught up. And if we have to do extra work at home, that’s OK. It’s better for them to be safe.”

Heather Blanchard, the mother of three elementary-school children, also said she would rather be safe, especially after seeing news reports of students and teachers stranded at schools in Atlanta and other parts of the Southeast because of bad weather and road conditions.

“We all have cabin fever and are so ready to get back to normal life, but I understand it,” Blanchard said. “One of my three was very upset about not going back to school. They’re all so ready to see their friends.”

Blanchard said she has been able to work from home this week, and has worked with her children on their reading and math skills throughout their time off.

“I think once the routine of school starts again, they’ll be able to jump back in quickly,” she said. “I think Friday will be just enough to let everyone know that they’re back and get them adjusted, and I’d expect them to really start back strong next week.”

Episcopal School of Acadiana, Westminster Christian Academy, Lafayette Christian Academy, St. Pius Elementary, St. Thomas More Catholic High School, Cathedral Carmel School, Carencro Catholic School and Schools of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau also were closed today.

Many private schools and schools within the Diocese of Lafayette align their closure schedules with that of the Lafayette Parish public schools. St. Thomas More Principal Richard Lavergne said the school takes into account the fact that many STM students ride the same buses as public school students.

Lavergne said he agreed with the decision to put safety concerns first, and is not worried about students and teachers getting back into a normal routine. All STM students have school-issued computers, which are being used to keep them informed about school events and assignments.